Wall and corner with grouted interlocked blocks



J. N. BLAIR March 8, 1966 WALL AND CORNER WITH GROUTED INTERLOCKED BLOCKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 2, 1962 INVENTOR. JOSEPH /V. BL AIE.

,ITTQIF/VE/S J. N. BLAIR March 8, 1966 WALL AND CORNER WITH GROUTED INTERLOCKED BLOCKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1962 L mm m8 my m J. N. BLAIR March 8, 1966 WALL AND CORNER WITH GROUTED INTERLOCKED BLOCKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 2, 1962 I NVENTOR. Jasaw/ M 5; me.

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March 8, 1966 J, N, BLAIR 3,238,680

WALL AND CORNER WITH GROUTED INTEBLOCKED BLOCKS Filed Oct. 2, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Jase? IV. au/e.

United States Patent 3,238,680 WALL AND CORNER WITH GROUTED INTERLOCKED BLOfiKS Joseph N. Blair, 515 S. Westend St., Detroit, Mich. Filed Oct. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 227,746 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-259) This invention relates to building blocks and more particularly to blocks useful in constructing walls.

Conventional block walls made of cement blocks or cinder blocks or the like require skilled masonry work to properly lay and mortar the blocks and to form a well constructed wall of the required strength. Thus, in many areas where either skilled masons are not available or the cost of their labor is relatively high, block walls are not practical in construction work.

Hence, it is an object of this invention to provide preformed blocks of predetermined configurations which blocks are arranged to automatically interlock in proper relationship when placed one upon another to thus eliminate the need for skilled masonry labor and to make it possible for any unskilled person, in a minimum amount of time, to place the blocks one on top of the other without mortar and without measurements for precise alignment.

A further object of this invention is to provide preformed blocks of predetermined configurations which are arranged to interlock one upon the other to form a complete building wall including straight edges, corners and upper and lower edges, all without the need for measurements or mortared joints and requiring only that the footing or floor surface be made level before starting, after which the walls of the building will be properly formed by merely lifting and inserting the blocks into place one by one.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, of which the attached drawings form a part.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a house whose walls are formed of the blocks herein.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view taken in the direction of arrows 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the basic block.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the basic block taken in the direction of arrows M of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the basic block, and

FIG. 6 is a side view taken in the direction of arrows 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a lower course block, and

FIG. 8 is an end view of a lower course block taken in the direction of arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevational View of the inside face of the lower course block shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view taken in the direction of arrows 1010 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a lower course block and also showing a metal support strip portion in place and a filler plug disassembled from the block.

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of an upper course block showing the inside face thereof.

FIG. 13 is an end view taken in the direction of arrows 13-13 of FIG. 12 and showing a portion of a joist ar ranged to be inserted in the upper course block.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an upper course block showing a joist in position.

FIG. 15 is a top view of a corner block taken in the direction of arrows 15-15 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of a corner block rested upon a lower corner block, which is shown in cross-section and fragmentary.

Patented Mar. 8, 1966 nector block.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an interior Wall connector block.

FIG. 22 is a top view, taken in the direction of arrows 2222 of FIG. 23, showing an interior wall block connection with an exterior wall basic block.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing an interior wall block connection to the interior surface of a basic block with another interior wall block arranged to be slid into position.

FIG. 24 is an elevational view, fragmentary and partially in cross-section, showing several blocks interconnected and FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a floor-connecting peg.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a portion of a house 10 constructed of the blocks herein. The house is formed of exterior block walls 11, a level floor 12 which may be a poured concrete slab or merely leveled earth or a poured footing, etc. The house is provided with a conventional roof 13, a window opening 14 and a door opening -15. FIG. 2 shows an interior partition wall 16 to which is connected another interior wall partition 16a.

The block walls are constructed of a number of preformed blocks generally described as a basic or square block 20, lower course blocks 21, upper course blocks 22, corner blocks 23, vertical edge blocks 24, interior wall connector blocks 25 and interior partition wall blocks 26. Each of these blocks are separately described below.

Each of the blocks is characterized by having sloping edges provided with locking formations which edges interlock one with the other to form a complete wall, one block thick, with the blocks being positioned and held in place primarily by gravity.

Basic or square blocks FIGS. 3-6 illustrates the basic block which is fiat and square in shape, vertically arranged and tipped at at 45 angle. It has a front or exterior wall surface 30 and a rear or interior wall surface 31, which may be pre scratched or grooved so that plaster may be applied if desired.

As arranged, the block presents two upper edges 32 and two lower edges 33 with the upper edges being provided with substantially V-shaped grooves 34 extending their full length and the lower edges being provided with 'integral V-shaped tongues 35. In addition, a number of vertically arranged'holes 36 extend vertically through the block with the end or side holes 36a being only half of a hole.

In use, the blocks are stacked one above the other to form horizontal courses with the tongues 35 of each block being inserted into the grooves 34 of the two blocks next below it thus vertically aligning all the holes 36 and completing the holes 36a so that the holes extend from top to bottom of the wall. Some of these holesmay be used for electrical wire raceways and hence, certain of the blocks may be provided with access holes 37 through which the wire may be pulled out for connection to electrical outlets and the like.

Lower course blocks FIGS. 7-1l illustrate one of the lower course blocks, which are triangular in shape, having flat bases 39 arranged to rest upon the floor or support 12 and upper edges 32 channelled at 34 identically to the channels of the basic block. These blocks are also provided with vertical holes 36 and half holes 36a. These blocks have an outer face 40 and an inner face 41, which may also be scratched or grooved (see FIG. 9) for purposes of applying plaster. Holes 42 are formed at the base of the blocks to receive wooden plugs 43 to which a baseboard molding 44 may be nailed by nails 45 around the interior of the walls of the house.

In addition, the blocks are slotted at 46, so that when they are used to form the header of window or door openings, these slots may receive a vertical flange 47 of a metal reinforcing strip 48 which extends the width of the window or door opening.

Upper course blocks The upper course blocks 22, illustrated in FIGS. 12-14, are substantially identical to the lower course blocks, except that they are inverted, and their lower edges 33 are provided with tongues 35 identical to that illustrated in FIG. relating to the basic block.

In this case, the openings 42 may be used to receive the ends of joists 49 which extend over the tops of the walls and upon which the roof is constructed.

Corner blocks Blocks 23, illustrated in FIGS. -16, are provided to form the exterior wall corners. Each of these blocks is formed of a triangular section 50 which is identical to half of a basic block so that it has an upper edge groove 34 and a lower edge tongue 35. In addition, it is provided with a rectangular portion 51 integral with the base of the triangular portion 50. The rectangular portions are formed with tapered studs 52 at their lower ends and tapered sockets 53 at their upper ends so that they may be interfitted one within the other as illustrated in FIG. 16. Also, a Vertical opening 54 extends through the rectangular portion, socket and stud so that when the corner blocks are fully assembled to form the wall, the opening extends from the top to the bottom of the wall and through this opening a reinforcing metal rod may be inserted or mortar may be poured in or both, to reinforce and lock the corners together. As shown in FIG. 16, the stud 52 of the lowest corner block may fit into a socket formed in the slab floor or in the alternative, it may be knocked off so that the bottom edge is flat and rests fiat upon the floor.

Straight edge block To form the vertical sides of the window and door openings, edge blocks 24, illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, are provided. These blocks .are substantially identical to the corner blocks except that they are provided with only one triangular portion 50.

Interior wall connector block FIGS. 19-21 illustrate an interior wall connector block used to connect one interior wall with a second interior wall abutting it at right angles. The interior wall blocks are generally of the same configuration as the basic block described in connection with FIGS. 3-6 and upper and lower course blocks. However, to reduce the block thickness, since the interior partition walls carry little load, the holes and grooves and tongues may coincide thus reducing the thickness. Hence, the interior wall connector block illustrates this arrangement of holes extending through the grooves and tongues. Here, the block is formed of three triangular portions 56 each having centrally located grooves 57 and tongues 59 through which vertical holes 58 extend. The three triangular portions are connected to a rectangular portion 51 identical to that described above in connection with the exterior wall corner blocks and having an upper end tapered socket 53, a lower stud 52 and a vertical hole 54.

The illustrated relationships of the holes, grooves and tongues would be typical of blocks used in the interior partition walls whether these blocks be of the basic shape or the upper or lower triangular course block shapes.

Wall joint between partition wall and outside exterior wall In order to lock the end of an interior partition wall to the exterior wall, it is desirable to use a suitable fastener interlocking the vertical edge of the partition wall to the face of the exterior wall. FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate this connection. Here, a triangular shaped block portion 56, identical to that described above in connection with the interior wall connector block, is arranged with its base 60 abutted against the interior face 31 of a basic block 20a, which is identical to basic block 20 except that it is provided with a vertically elongated slot 61 through which. a flat metal clip 62 is inserted to fit into its central vertical hole 36. The opposite end of the clip is fitted through a slot 63 formed in the triangular block 56.

As shown in FIG. 23, the clip is provided with an upwardly extending tooth 64 which locks Within the hole 36 and an oppositely arranged upwardly extending tooth 65 locked in the hole 58, as well as a rounded lower portion 66 and a downwardly extending tooth 67 so that the clip may be snugly inserted into the slot 61 in the block 29.2 by first inserting tooth 64 and then rotating the clip clockwise until it is snugly seated within the hole 36.

Pegs for securing lower course blocks to floor Illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25 are metal pegs 70 used to hold the lower course blocks of either the exterior wall of the interior partitions or both in proper place. These pegs are preferably tubes whose upper ends are bent over at 71 to form blunt ends and whose ends are serrated into the form of sharp teeth 72. When the lower course blocks are placed upon the floor, one of the pegs may be dropped through any one of the holes therein and then by means of a metal rod, inserted through the hole, can be pounded down into the concrete floor 12 to thus keep the lower course block in position. The pegs snugly fit within the holes, but the lower course blocks can be pulled up, off the pegs, if desired.

General assembly of building walls To assemble the building walls, a level floor 12 must first be constructed, this floor can be either a poured concrete floor, or a dirt floor or merely concrete footings or the like. The upper surface thereof must be horizontal in order to level and properly align the blocks forming the wall.

Thereafter, the lowest corner block is placed into position as illustrated in FIG. 23, and then the lower course, triangular blocks 21 are placed in position, as indicated in FIG. 24. From that point on, the corner blocks, straight edge blocks which form the doorways and window openings and the like and the main, square blocks, are simply stacked one upon the other with the tongues interlocking into the grooves until the highest or upper course is reached. At this point, the upper course blocks are placed into position.

In order to form the headers of the window and door opening, it is desirable to use a metal reinforcing strip 48, as illustrated in FIG. 11, to reinforce the opening. After the upper course is laid, the horizontal roof joists 49 may be placed into position with their ends inserted into the openings 42 of the upper course blocks 22.

At this point, the walls are completely assembled. However, where desired, the walls may be reinforced and unified by inserting reinforcing rods 75 (illustrated in FIG. 24) or mortar 76 or both down through selected ones of the vertical aligned holes in the blocks from the top to the bottom of the wall.

Normally, the blocks will fit together with a dry fit. However, in cases where the tongues and grooves may be rough, as when the blocks are cast of rough cement or the like, it may be desirable to paint the tongue and groove edges with a thin coating of tar or roofing compound or the like to thus fill in and compensate for the irregularities of the edge surfaces.

This invention may be further developed within the scope of the following claim. Accordingly, it is desired that the foregoing description be read as being merely illustrative of an operative embodiment of this invention and not in a strictly limited sense.

I now claim:

A building Wall having an exterior front face and an interior rear face and formed of blocks, the blocks between the upper and lower course being square and having a front flat face and a rear flat face, with the edges of the square being positioned 45 degrees relative to the vertical and the blocks being arranged with the flat faces in vertical planes to form the exterior and interior wall surfaces; each of the two upper edges of each block having a substantially V-shaped groove extending its full length, and each of the two lower edges of each block having integral V-shaped tongues extending substantially its full length, the grooves of each block snugly receiving and being filled by the tongues of the blocks above it; the blocks of the lowest course of blocks each being triangular in shape with the base of the triangle rested upon a horizontal support and the tWo sides, each extending at a- 45 degree angle and being of the same length as the edges of the square block and each side having a groove extending the length thereof, with the grooves being of a size and shape to each snugly receive a tongue of the square block next above it; the blocks of the upper course of blocks being substantially identical to the blocks of the lowest course, but being inverted and with the two sloping edges each being provided with integral V-shaped tongues extending substantially its full length snugly fitting into and filling the groove of the edge of the square block below it; and a vertical wall edge formed of triangular shaped corner blocks having bases vertically arranged and a pair of right angularly related corner defining blocks projecting from said vertically arranged base integral therewith, each block including an upper sloping edge formed with a groove and a lower sloping edge formed with a tongue snugly interfitting with the corresponding tongue and groove of the adjacent edges of the blocks next adjacent to them; a conically shaped projeca corresponding conically shaped vertically alined recess upon the top of each base cooperatively receiving the corresponding projection of the vertical Wall edge forming block thereabove; the edges of each of said blocks having a front edge portion and a rear edge portion, and all of said tongues and grooves being located upon said front edge portions adjacent to the exterior front face of the wall; and the rear edge portion of each block being flat, and in face to face contact with the rear edge portion of the next adjacent block; and a number of vertically arranged openings extending through each block centrally between its rear face and the rear edges of its respective tongues and grooves, the openings being vertically alined from top to bottom of said Wall and certain of said alined openings being filled with mortar, with other of said openings being unobstructed to form conduits.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 789,820 5/1905 Specht 52--590 960,217 5/1910 Dodds 52439 1,153,900 9/1915 Fairbank 52436 1,434,378 11/1922 Evans 52438 1,566,228 12/1925 Ryan 52286 1,723,930 8/1929 Giesler 52297 2,014,576 9/1935 Leggat et a1. 52285 2,249,204 7/1941 Guignon 52293 2,414,628 1/ 1947 Battin 52293 FOREIGN PATENTS 953,954 5/ 1949 France.

973,932 9/1950 France.

575,796 5/ 1933 Germany.

76,970 1/ 1955 Holland.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, EARL J. WITMER,

Examiners. 

